Giuliano Ward

As he draws nearer, Nezetta pauses, one finger still resting on the spine of a book, to watch him.

How strange this nervousness…like she had met him for the first time again, all careful steps and hesitancy, as if she was some pretty glass thing and he could crush her with a glance. Oh, but wasn’t that what he had done? Why was she even thinking about this? Why was she allowing him to draw ever closer knowing what he could do to her, and what he was obviously so willing to do?

Nezetta doesn’t back away though, even as her thoughts rise to a tumultuous crescendo of emotion - a frustrating mix of apprehension and interest.

“I did,” she answers almost immediately, her gaze falling once more to continue her search. A moment later, she picks a book, pulling it from its place and turning to face him.

“Have you?”

The hesitancy was, indeed, strange. Neither of them seemed to be able to be as cold as they had been before. Yet neither could simply go back to the way things were before he had made that terrible - but ongoing - mistake. A mistake he aimed to rectify immediately. 

He leaned against the bookshelf, watching her fingers trace over the leatherbound pages and finally pulling one out. “Indeed, I have.” Giuliano cleared his throat. He took a deep breath and stood straight before speaking again. “I suppose I owe you an incredible apology. One that I will not blame you if you hear and still wish to never speak to me again.”

Giuliano paused, watching for her reaction. “I have done a terrible thing to you. I turned away from you when I should have stayed by your side. What I had done in my own pain only caused you much more pain. I know that is something that I can never change and never take back, but I am truly sorry.”

Nezetta paused momentarily as she found herself in the presence of her husband. It seemed she had inadvertently sought it out anyway. Surprisingly, though, she wasn’t particularly upset about it despite the fact she still believed she should be.

She resumes her walk to the shelves as she answers, fingers scanning leather bound spines for the right title.

“I am well,” she answers, briefly glancing over at him from the shelf before her gaze found the books again. “It’s been…quiet today.”

Giuliano half expected to see her walk right back out of the library after he spoke. But he was glad to see her continue to walk over to the shelves. “I’m glad to hear that. It’s been quite loud lately.”

He stands walking near her and reshelving his own book, decidedly finished with it for the day. “Have you gotten decent rest after the ball?” He hated how strange conversation seemed, and he could remember when it had been so easy. And now... he knew he’d have to work to get things back to that time.

The sigh of apparent disappointment set something alive in Captain Blythe Briarcliff: the last thing she ever wanted to do was surrender to the quagmire of being boring. ( Once people were bored, it was an arduous task to drag oneself back out, much like fighting for the survival of a ship that was taking on water. ) 

After a moment to take in a breath, she turned her page, in thought. After all, she was trying this whole ‘peaceability’ thing mostly for Isira’s sake, for the impact that could be made if only they could change things. 

“Well, at the given moment, it is not so simple, is it?” While the wound had been healing well — surprisingly so, the doctor had noted — she remained somewhat wary of it and how it would restrict her range of options. “When I go looking for a fight, I like to know that I can win them.”

Giuliano could get bored rather easily. It was why he had chosen the life of a knight, one full of excitement. Well, maybe not full, but certainly not lacking in it. He didn’t like to easily fall into a routine, though in some areas of his life, he welcomed it.

He leaned forward in his chair, arms resting on his knees, hands folded beneath his chin. He had seen the captain’s sacrifice for the princess of Elesea - someone who very much disliked him - and he was intelligent enough to understand the meaning behind it.